CREATING A CULTURE … SERVANTS
JOHN 13:1-17
THE INTIMACY …
ILLUSTRATED IN THE IMPORTANCE OF MEALS,
“IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OVERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF TABLE FELLOWSHIP FOR THE CULTURES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN IN THE FIRST CENTURY. MEALS WERE FAR MORE THAN OCCASIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CONSUME NOURISHMENT. BEING WELCOME AT THE TABLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EATING FOOD WITH ANOTHER PERSON HAD BECOME A CEREMONY RICHLY SYMBOLIC OF FRIENDSHIP, INTIMACY AND UNITY. THUS BETRAYAL OR UNFAITHFULNESS TOWARD ANYONE WITH WHOM ONE HAD SHARED THE TABLE WAS VIEWED AS PARTICULARLY REPREHENSIBLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN PERSONS WERE ESTRANGED, A MEAL INVITATION OPENED THE WAY TO RECONCILIATION.”
S. SCOTT BARTCHY, DICTIONARY OF JESUS AND THE GOSPELS
“THE SON OF MAN HAS COME EATING AND DRINKING; AND YOU SAY, BEHOLD A GLUTTONOUS MAN AND A DRUNKARD, A FRIEND OF TAX-GATHERS AND SINNERS!” LUKE 7:34
THE SIGNIFICANCE …
THE SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE – HOW JESUS SEE US;
Vv.1, “HIS HOUR”
Vv.1c,
“HE LOVED THEM TO THE UTTERMOST”
Vv.2,
JESUS IS CREATING A SYMBOLIC ACT THAT DEPICTS WHAT “HIS HOUR” MEANS
Vv.3,
JESUS IS GOING BACK TO THE FATHER,
Vv. 4-5,
THE DELIGHT OF DEITY,
THE DIRTY FEET OF HIS DISCIPLES,
THE MORAL SIGNIFICANCE – HOW WE SEE JESUS;
Vv.6,
“YOU wash MY feet” SCANDALOUS
Vv.7-8,
TRUE HUMILITY IS WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE WITHOUT EMBARRASSMENT,
Vv.9-10,
“DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YOU SINNERS; AND PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YOU DOUBLE MINDED.” JAMES 4:8
Vv.11,
IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE CLEAN FEET AND A DIRTY HEART?
THE SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE – HOW WE SEE EACH OTHER:
Vv.12-17,
APPLICATION:
PETER’S PROTEST SOUNDS LIKE HUMILITY, BUT IT IS
PRIDE …
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US …
JESUS HAD ABSOLUTE SECURITY IN HIS IDENTITY …
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR RCC …
